5
manufacturer’s chain sharpening and main-
tenance instructions. Check tension at regu-
lar intervals with the engine stopped, never
with the engine running. Make sure the bar
clamp nuts are securely tightened after ten-
sioning the chain.
S
Begin and continue cutting at full speed. If
the chain is moving at a slower speed,
there is greater chance of kickback occur-
ring.
S
Cut one log at a time.
S
Use extreme caution when re-entering a
previous cut.
S
Do not attempt cuts starting with the tip of
the bar (plunge cuts).
S
Watch for shifting logs or other forces that
could close a cut and pinch or fall into chain.
S
Use the Reduced--Kickback Guide Bar
and Low--Kickback Chain specified for
your saw.
MAINTAIN CONTROL
Never reverse
hand positions
Stand to the left of
the saw
Thumb on underside of
handlebar
Elbow locked
S
Keep a good, firm grip on the saw with both
hands when the engine is running and
don’t let go. A firm grip will help you reduce
kickback and maintain control of the saw.
Keep the fingers of your left hand encir-
cling and your left thumb under the front
handlebar. Keep your right hand com-
pletely around the rear handle whether
your are right handed or left handed. Keep
your left arm straight with the elbow
locked.
S
Position your left hand on the front handle-
bar so it is in a straight line with your right
hand on the rear handle when making
bucking cuts. Never reverse right and left
hand positions for any type of cutting.
S
Stand with your weight evenly balanced on
both feet.
S
Stand slightly to the left side of the saw to
keep your body from being in a direct line
with the cutting chain.
S
Do not overreach. You could be drawn or
thrown off balance and lose control of the
saw.
S
Do not cut above shoulder height. It is diffi-
cult to maintain control of saw above
shoulder height.
KICKBACK SAFETY FEATURES
WARNING
:
The following features
are included on your saw to help reduce the
hazard of kickback; however, such features
will not totally eliminate this dangerous reac-
tion. As a chain saw user, do not rely only on
safety devices. You must follow all safety
precautions, instructions, and maintenance
in this manual to help avoid kickback and
other forces which can result in serious
injury.
S
Reduced--Kickback Guide Bar, designed
with a small radius tip which reduces the
size of the kickback danger zone on the
bar tip. A Reduced--Kickback Guide Bar
has been demonstrated to significantly re-
duce the number and seriousness of kick-
backs.
Small Radius Tip
Reduced Kickback Symmetrical Guide Bar
Symmetrical Guide Bar
Large Radius Tip
S
Low--Kickback Chain, designed with a
contoured depth gauge and guard link
which deflect kickback force and allow
wood to gradually ride into the cutter.
Low-Kickback Chain
Contoured Depth Gauge
Elongated Guard Link
Deflects Kickback
Force And Allows
Wood To Gradually
Ride Into Cutter
S
Handguard, designed to reduce the
chance of your left hand contacting the
chain if your hand slips off the front handle-
bar.
S
Position of front and rear handlebars, de-
signed with distance between handles and
“in-line” with each other. The spread and
“in-line” position of the hands provided by
this design work together to give balance
and resistance in controlling the pivot of
the saw back toward the operator if kick-
back occurs.
WARNING
:
DO NOT RELY UPON
ANY OF THE DEVICES BUILT INTO YOUR
SAW.
YOU SHOULD USE THE SAW
PROPERLY AND CAREFULLY TO AVOID
KICKBACK. Reduced--kickback guide bars